The Food Safety Authority found widespread evidence of rodent infestation in a number of places.
In total, the FSAI issued sixteen enforcement orders on food businesses countrywide in September.
The vast majority of them were in the capital, with 11 takeaways, cafés and shops shuttered.
Some of the reasons for nationwide closures included a live rodent running across the the floor in a food storage room, clear evidence of a rodent attack on a bag of rice and a dead bird on a premises.
Officials also found active cockroach infestations, poor hand washing facilities and unsafe storage of raw meat.
Nine Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
Glens Takeaway and Diner, Cappaughna, Glengarriff, Cork
Grace’s Garden (Service Sector), Dublin Road, Shankhill, Co. Dublin
Koffee and Kale (Restaurant/Café), 21B Hill Street, Dublin 1
Spar (Closed area: Deli area only), Unit 3, 111 Reubens Square, Dolphins Barn, Dublin 8
Kimex Ireland Limited (Small Meat Manufacturing Plant), Unit 7, Golden Bridge Industrial Estate, Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8
Osteria 99 Italian Cuisine (Restaurant/Café), 1st Floor, 99 Monkstown Road, Monkstown, Co. Dublin
Polonez (Retailer), Unit 4, Walkinstown Retail Centre, Walkinstown Avenue, Walkinstown, Dublin 12.
Café Sol, Cornelscourt Shopping Centre, Foxrock, Dublin 18
That’s Amore (Restaurant/Café), 107 Monkstown Road, Monkstown, Co. Dublin
Four Closure Orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
Antonio’s (Take Away), 61a Ballybough Road, Dublin 3
Red Robin Takeaway, River Street, Killenaule, Tipperary
The Lord Lucan Pub, Finnstown Shopping Centre, Lock Road, Lucan, Co. Dublin
Coolmine Shawarma & Grilled (Closed activity: Storage, preparation, handling and cooking of raw meat at the premises) (Take Away), Unit 40B, Coolmine Industrial Estate, Porters Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
Dr Pamela Byrne, Chief Executive, FSAI, said that food businesses must ensure that their premises are fully pest proofed.
“The number of Closure Orders served in September, which listed evidence of widespread rodent or cockroach activity along with a lack of pest proofing, is very concerning.
“Pests can transmit very harmful pathogens to food, food surfaces and equipment and this presents a grave and immediate danger to public health.
“Every food business must ensure that they have a robust pest control system in place and that the system is checked regularly. It is crucial that swift and effective action is taken at the first sign of an infestation.
“Consumers have an absolute right to expect safe food. There is no room for excuses and adhering to food safety standards is a legal obligation for every food business.”
